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A Letter from Brian Selznick
 Dear readers,
When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I'm an illustrator myself, I've often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities.
My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.
I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn't until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born.
A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work.
Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Yours,
Brian Selznick |
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Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret
This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully!
--Brian Selznick |
More from Brian Selznick
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The Houdini Box |
Walt Whitman: Words for America |
The Boy of a Thousand Faces |
Customer Reviews:
The type of book you want your kids to read!.......2007-10-08
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about an independent, intelligent young boy who maintains the clocks in a train station. Inheriting the job from his deadbeat uncle, Hugo lives within the walls of the station and must deal with the daily struggle of taking care of himself without any money. While he isn't working he obsesses over an automaton that his father had once worked on. Throughout the novel he strives to make it work again, hoping it will connect him to his dead father. Along the way he makes a new friend and learns that it is okay to depend on others for help.
What really makes this book unique are the hundreds of illustrations that are wonderfully drawn by Selznick. They actually take the place of words, they don't just illustrate what you have read. They are not meant to be skimmed over, but analyzed and appreciated.
This novel is the type of book you want your kids to read; it is well written, teaches lessons, presents strong characters and has a unique story.
Great Book for Boys.......2007-10-07
My 11-year-old son read this book in 2 days. He absolutely loved it, both the illustrations and the writing. "I liked the way the pictures told the story," he said. He wants to read more Brian Selznick now. Great books for boys don't grow on trees; this is a real winner.
Wonderful Blend of Pictures and Words.......2007-10-05
This was just an incredible book. A wonderful mix of pictures and words, it is fifty per cent graphic novel and fifty percent prose. An intriguing mystery set in Paris, certain to be enjoyed by readers both young and old.
It flows quickly - you will get much more out of it if you take your time with the pictures particularly. The detail in some of the scenes is well worth the time.
The characters are believable - youngsters forced to be older than their years in some cases, but still children at heart.
I was amazed to read the author notes at the end, about how much was based on actual creations.
Definitely an interesting, and recommended, read.
Unexpectedly Educational.......2007-09-30
Although it doesn't come across as a historical fiction piece, that's exactly what this book is. Much like the film Amadeus, The Invention of Hugo Cabret uses real life historical people to create an exaggerated (if not downright false) interpretive biography.
Works of this particular genre contain a strange mixture of true and false elements, and are actually good tools for teaching. True, they may lead to some initial misconceptions, but adequate research after the reading can clear these misconceptions up in a hurry. I wouldn't make a big deal out of a minor conception though, if in turn you get a wondrous discovery to go along with it.
From this book I learned that intricate machines were being invented long before computers and television. Robots that could draw and write as far back as perhaps the 18th century. Amazing. Why aren't we taught things like this in school? Probably because the textbooks that are issued make people of the past look like complete dimwits when that really isn't the case.
The revelation of the existence of ancient robots alone is enough for me to give this book a high amount of praise. But the artistry in the book brings it to another level. So much work went into the dozens and dozens of beautiful pencil illustrations that you'd have to be a complete jerk to not give Selznick at least a little respect for his efforts.
Often I have to read five or six unexciting books before I get to one that really makes me say, "Wow!" This is a "Wow!" book, and makes a fitting addition to any library. The risk of constructing it in such an unusual style has greatly paid off. Books like this are the reason I read.
I know I'm not the first one to say this, but this might be the book of the future we're looking at here.
wonderful fresh story.......2007-09-27
I originally bought this book for my husband and son to read. They enjoyed it so much that I had to read it myself. What a lovely story. The illustrations were outstanding and placed perfectly within the story. I went strictly off of the description from Amazon and the one picture that they showed. I was so impressed with the drawing and the idea of them being inside the book that I just knew it would be worth having. What a pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Selznick.
Book Description
3-D master Robert Crowther is right on track with an information-packed, interactive celebration of trains then and now.
Have you ever wondered how a steam engine works? Do you have a hankering to don an engineer's cap and race a locomotive under tunnels and over bridges? Loaded with flaps, pull-tabs, 3-D trains, and a spectacular pop-up model of a bustling railroad station, Robert Crowther's sturdy exploration of trains and how they work is a tour de force of paper engineering and a bonanza for railroad aficionados of all ages. What's more, it's filled to the brim with fun facts and intriguing information lurking behind, around, and even on top of its many marvelous, movable trains.
Customer Reviews:
Trains: A Pop-Up Railroad Book.......2007-08-23
My son reads this book every night. It is great entertainment for train lovers!
Great for older kids.......2007-08-11
Wonderful book but very fiddly for little hands and will tear easily. I would think it would be a 8 or 9 year old that would be able to care for this book properly. My 3 year old pulled a piece off before I had a chance to stop him and he was trying to play with it. (he has been brought up to respect his books and is not rough or careless either).
WARNING!! TOO DELICATE FOR LITTLE KIDS.......2007-07-30
This book is way too delicate. My son is easy on books and has had lots of pop-ups and lift the flap books since he was a baby. He received TRAINS for his 4th birthday, and within minutes a pop up was torn. I chastised him to "be more careful" and then while showing him how to be careful I tore one of the trains! The book has to be open just exactly right for the trains to line up properly with the paper "tracks." This book requires more care than the average little kid can manage (i.e the same kids who love Thomas the Tank Engine are probably too young!) On the other hand, I agree that the book has REALLY good information and is a really neat little book. It's too bad that it requires parental supervision. Perhaps if the cardboard were coated with some kind of plastic it would be sturdier???
For Older or Careful Children.......2007-03-27
My son loves trains and loves this pop-up book. At [...], we have to be very careful that he doesn't rip the book while looking at it, but he does know to keep it out of reach of his [...]brother. I would highly recommend this book to other children that love trains (and pop up books).
children's books.......2007-02-21
My four-year-old loves this book. He enjoys looking at it alone or having an adult read it to him. Some of the moving parts are fragile so I would not recommend this book for a younger child.
Average customer rating:
- A Cute Story & Illustrations for Children Ages 3 - 6
- Not as Good as the Other George Stories
- Another take on George
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Curious George Takes a Train (Curious George)
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
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Curious George Goes to the Beach
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Curious George Visits the Library (Curious George)
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Curious George Makes Pancakes (Curious George)
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Curious George and the Dumptruck
ASIN: 0618065679 |
Book Description
Down at the train station everyone is busy. No one notices a little monkeyuntil he tries to help with the schedule board. Soon George is hiding from an angry train master and notices something himselfa boy in trouble. Then it's George to the rescue. By lending a helping hand (or two) Curious George gets a new friend, a big thank you, and a very special seat on the train.
Customer Reviews:
A Cute Story & Illustrations for Children Ages 3 - 6.......2007-04-21
Curious George, Margret & H. A. Rey's loveable monkey (Technically he's a Chimpanzee but we won't quibble too much . . . .) has received a series of new stories but in the same structure and style of the original. In these stories, George is a good monkey who tries to be helpful but allows his curiosity to cause problems. In the end however, George saves the day and all is forgiven. In this story, George, along with the Man in the Yellow Hat, is going on a train trip, causes problems in the station and then prevents a small boy from falling on the tracks. In the end, George and his new friend the small boy receive a ride in the locomotive. (I hope they brought earplugs.)
My mother taught me to read with Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat more than 30 years ago and it is good to see new stories for the cheeky little fellow. This story does not have quite the touch of the original but is very close. A good story with a good lesson and highly recommended.
Not as Good as the Other George Stories.......2006-07-20
My son LOVES trains, and he also loved the Curious George movie. He has several of the books based on the Rey's style, and the PS2 Curious George game.
Curious George Takes a Train is the first George book I've bought "sight unseen" (from Amazon.com). However, since my son loves both trains and George, I felt it was a great fit.
Granted, my son seems to like the book. Out of the four books illustrated/written in the Rey tradition, my son owns three by Martha Weston. The other--Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory--is illustrated by Vipah Interactive.
Weston is heavy on the black charcoal as it is (as seen in the shadowing of books like Curious George Visits a Toy Store), but she is *especially* heavy with the black illustrations in Curious George Takes a Train. In fact, it often looks as if a child has taken a black crayon and (no lie) colored vertical streaks of black right on top of the people!
It's very unattractive, in my opinion, but kids don't seem to notice these types of things. I also felt that the story was a bit harrowing for a George tale (a little boy runs from his father after a toy train, the gate closes behind him, and the boy almost goes out in front of the tracks--but George saves his life.)
The story is a bit quick...it goes from the Man with the Yellow Hat strolling off with Mrs. Needleman in the station to George climbing up and messing with the numbers and letters on the train schedule--and then off to saving the boy!
If your child is a train enthusiast who likes George, he/she will likely enjoy this book. However, as far as stories go--and illustrations--there are better books in this series, in my opinion.
Another take on George.......2004-11-05
Refusing to believe that love equals control or perhaps distracted by his companion Mrs. Needleman, the man with the yellow hat once again disappears as George wanders unsupervised. This time, in a train station mired in mid-century stasis, George rearranges the trainmaster's board in a misguided attempt to help. In the end, George discovers that what it takes to be forgiven is good intentions and the quick wits to save someone's life. Unlike Vipah Interactive's spanking clean take on George, Martha Weston's looser, darker illustrations harken back to the original's feeling of big city grit.
Book Description
A colorful history of a remarkable building, the architects, politicians, and celebrities connected to it, as well as its impact on our culture, and the recent renovation. This is the story of Grand Central Terminal in New York City, a remarkable and beautiful building whose birth, survival, and restoration reflect not only the changes that have taken place in our country's history, culture, and social consciousness but also the critical role architecture plays in the expansion of our cities. It begins with the historic struggle to save Grand Central in the wake of the destruction of Penn Station and in the face of economic forces in the real-estate industry that are intent on its demise. There follows a chronological history of the previous two stations on the site; the construction of the present building; and the grand and anecdotal human stories, movies, and radio programs that involve the great building. Also chronicled is the decline of long-distance rail travel and the emergence of the MTA as the force behind Grand Central's rebirth. Chapters and photographs (50 color plates, 100 black-and-white illustrations) provide a fascinating firsthand account of the $400 million restoration.
Customer Reviews:
Grand to say the Least.......2005-12-23
This is a wonderful book on a magnificent building. This book has wonderful period photos as well as recent images and the text is highly informative. It's hard to believe that this building was once slated for demolition, thanks to New Yorkers like Jackie O, Grand Central was saved. Everyone who visits New York City should venture into this singular station, it embodies New York and you get a real feel for Gilded Age grandeur. If you have any interest in magnificent buildings or just good books in general then I believe you will not be disappointed.
Book Description
This beautiful photographic collection of urban train station design covers a 100-year period from roughly 1850 to 1950. Striking original photographs chronicle 40 large passenger station buildings still in existence in cities around the world. From the great terminals of London, across the world to Auckland, New Zealand; from Toronto's Union Station to the grand and crumbling Retiro Station in Buenos Aires—vastly different architectural forms are displayed and presented chronologically. One-third of the stations included are among the best America has to offer.
Still Standing: A Century of Urban Train Station Design outlines the history and development of large urban stations throughout the Western world. The basic physical forms and their evolution are reviewed in the context of the rapid growth of train travel. Christopher Brown discusses the arrival and impact of Beaux-Arts architecture in the 1890s and its profound effect on the American terminal. The end of the so-called golden era of passenger rail travel coincided with an architectural move away from the classicism of Beaux-Arts. New and different design forms appeared while passengers defected to other means of transportation.
These dazzling public structures have endured, but the photographs imply a disturbing question: How long will they survive?
Customer Reviews:
A very pleasant surprise!.......2006-03-08
I was pleased to discover this book, and to find it was really more than just a group of train station photographs - as beautiful as they are. The writer/photographer simply yet eloquently shares his love of these structures - both in his writing and in the loving way the many station photographs are presented and framed. I purchase a lot of design and architecture books. It is not often this type of book delivers so much "heart". A very pleasant surprise!
Disappointing...........2006-03-06
The photos are few and mediocre and the printing is of low quality with poor color saturation and muddy details (perhaps because it is printed in China?). Even the limited details of the stations themselves (the only written information in the book) is lacking in depth. Save your money....
Pictures worth a thousand words...........2005-11-19
It is very seldom one finds a book on a specialized subject such as striking photos of train station architecture that is executed with such passion and commitment. The preface gives a brilliant foundation to this study which, in lesser hands, could have easily become dry and academic. The photos are stunning and the placement of the camera always reveals the design or the detail that distills what the designer of the station intended. The layout is beautifully done with a keen eye for color and layout. I love this book, and it is high on my gift-giving list for Christmas.
Book Description
The epic story of the struggle to connect New York City to the rest of the nation
The demolition of Penn Station in 1963 destroyed not just a soaring neoclassical edifice, but also a building that commemorated one of the last century's great engineering feats—the construction of railroad tunnels into New York City. Now, in this gripping narrative, Jill Jonnes tells this fascinating story—a high-stakes drama that pitted the money and will of the nation's mightiest railroad against the corruption of Tammany Hall, the unruly forces of nature, and the machinations of labor agitators. In 1901, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Alexander Cassatt, determined that it was technically feasible to build a system of tunnels connecting Manhattan to New Jersey and Long Island. Confronted by payoff-hungry politicians, brutal underground working conditions, and disastrous blowouts and explosions, it would take him nearly a decade to make Penn Station and its tunnels a reality. Set against the bustling backdrop of Gilded Age New York, Conquering Gotham will enthrall fans of David McCullough's The Great Bridge and Ron Chernow's Titan.
Customer Reviews:
Great Glided-Age Gotham Tale.......2007-10-01
Much has been written about the lamentable loss of the original Penn Station in the 1960s. The majestic building's turn-of-the-century birth is less well known. Jill Jonnes tells this fascinating Gilded Age story in "Conquering Gotham."
The Pennsylvania Railroad, one of the most powerful corporations of the time, had long been thwarted in its efforts to enter the New York market, being forced to ferry its passengers across the North (Hudson) River. Andrew Cassett, the PRR's visionary President, was determined to finally overcome the technical challenges posed by the mile-long river crossing and the equally formidable obstacles of New York's graft-infested Tammany politics.
Fortune graced Cassett in the form of the election of the reform Mayor Seth Low in 1901. A dour, disagreeable man ("A politician can say `no' and win a friend," wrote journalist Lincoln Steffens. "Low can lose one by saying 'yes.'"), Low would serve only one term. But the two-year break in Tammany's City Hall stranglehold was window enough for Cassett to win approval for his plan without paying any "boodle." And an audacious plan it was: crossing the North River, burrowing under the City and then crossing the East River, in order to link the LIRR (PRR's subsidiary) directly to Manhattan.
Most observers expected PRR to erect bridges to achieve the river crossings. Instead, Cassett's engineers elected to construct subaqueous tunnels - two under the North River and four beneath the East River. Tunnel construction was a harrowing proposition; the East River tunnels, in particular, were marred by several fatal mishaps. Even after completion, PRR's engineers were not sure the tunnels were safe enough to withstand the stresses of high-speed trains.
Penn Station would be located in the heart of Manhattan's "Tenderloin" district, also known as "Satan's Circus," because of its rampant vice. Cassett's point man on the site assemblage was Douglas Robinson, brother-in-law to President Teddy Roosevelt, who set out to quietly buy up the bars, brothels, shops and tenement buildings on the cheap. However, PRR's intentions soon became public, and costs mounted. The hardest bargainer: the pastor of a Catholic church, who walked away with a half-million dollars and a more central location for his parish. Total cost for the assemblage: more than $5 million.
Turn-of-the-century train stations were cathedrals of commerce. And in this regard, Charles McKim's Penn Station - inspired by the ancient Roman Empire -- set a new standard. McKim's masterpiece would guilt the Vanderbilts into building a new, more palatial Grand Central Terminal, the one we still admire today.
McKim would not live to see the project finished. Neither would Cassett nor the LIRR's President William Baldwin (dead at 41). But the creation of these men and others - Penn Station and its tunnels - would transform Manhattan, sharply easing the dense overcrowding by making broadscale suburban commuting viable.
Fascinating History.......2007-07-02
If you love NYC history...then this is a book for you! The years of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century are illuminated in this carefulyy researched non-fiction account of an engineering marvel. Getting the Pennsylvania Railroad into the greatest city on earth, by tunneling under the Hudson reads like a dramatic novel, with an interesting cast of characters. It made me want to read more about the demise of Pennsylvania Station...so I found more books on that subject. Enjoy!!
A David McCullough treatment would have been gripping. This, not........2007-06-28
I came to this book prepared to place it in the pantheon of marvelous accounts of epic undertakings and events of the muscled, 19th century America powerbrokers whose vision shaped the world we live in. Unfortunately, Jonnes is not the writer to capture that age.
The majesty of the tunnel undertakings should have been the centerpiece of the story. The effort in the book clearly went into retracing the intrigues surroundinging the graft-ridden political machinery the PRR had to overcome. So, for visual support, we are treated to a number of head- and group shots of the principals, in and out of business meetings, and nostalgic scenes of congested New York streets and waterways. Where are the detailed descriptions, maps and diagrams that flesh out the real story - the mastery of tunnel construction in an unstable footing?
Jonnes has a long way to go to approach the narrative skills of David McCullough in "The Great Bridge," "The Johnstown Flood," or "The Path Between the Seas."
Needs a fact checker.......2007-06-15
I am an avid PRR aficiando but was shocked to read the first sentence of the book and to find it rife with errors. Mr. Cassatt used what the PRR called "Business Cars" for his travels over the railroad, not Pullman Palace Cars. He conducted his business and inspected his property from a seat in what the railroad termed a PARLOR not a sitting room. DETAILS!
I was so disappointed that I had to put the book down. I'll try again tonight. After all the hype about this book, I would have thought that the book would have been a historical gem telling the story of one of America's engineering marvels.
It is a story worth telling and telling well. I'll update my thoughts as I complete the story
Conquering Gotham: A Gilded Age Epic.......2007-06-14
Conquering Gotham: A Gilded Age Epic: The Construction of Penn Station and Its TunnelsA very good read about railroad history.
Book Description
Typically, coaling stations were huge towers of steel, concrete, or timber that held 50 to 1,000 tons of coal. This coal would eventually be dumped into steam locomotive tenders to be delivered across the country. The author uses reproduced material and articles that originally appeared in Railway Age and other trade magazines of the era, and advertisements from the three major builders of coaling stations: Fairbanks-Morse, Ogle Engineering and Roberts & Schaefer. Photographs show various types of coaling stations and fueling facilities, stand pipes and tanks, and cinder conveyors. It's a great book for rail fans, historians, and modelers.
Customer Reviews:
A Gem.......2003-07-17
Author Corns has studied Ohio's Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway for decades, and his passion for the subject shines through in this definitive volume. Hundreds of sharply reproduced black-and-white photographs, thoroughly captioned and most never before published, augment a detail-rich text that brings to life an important and relatively unheralded piece of American railway history.
Train and rolling stock photos predominate, as would be expected, but remarkable images of long-gone stations, engine terminals, yards, and workers also grace the pages.
The W&LE, itself an amalgamation of small companies, was leased to the larger Nickel Plate Road in 1949, and it is at this logical point in the Wheeling's rather tumultuous history that the author concludes his review.
This book is a gem, and holds much of interest for railfans, modelers, historians, and Ohioans alike.
Book Description
A beautiful tribute to the glory of the original Pennsylvania Railroad Station
During the first half of the 20th century, the original Pennsylvania Station was one of New York City’s grandest landmarks, a palace in the middle of Manhattan. William Low’s glorious illustrations pay close attention to detail while still encompassing the large-scale grandeur of Penn Station.
Old Penn Station follows a very specific piece of New York City history, but it’s not just a New York book. The author’s research carefully addresses the whole history of the building, from construction to destruction, ending with an acknowledgment of its lasting legacy in terms of historical preservation. Spaces can be powerful, and Old Penn Station honors one particular powerful space which is sure to engender discussion about other historical buildings and monuments all across the nation.
This is a classic, beautiful book for history lovers, train lovers, and art lovers alike.
Customer Reviews:
What a mistake.......2007-08-26
This is a mere child's book. Never thought that was what I was ordering. Looked at description on line. Never got impression that this was a kid's book.
Wonderful!.......2007-07-30
Finally a book that dosn't dumb it down for kids. We received it 2 weeks ago and we still love exploring it again again. It seems there is always something new we find in the illistrations.
Beautifully Illustrated History!.......2007-07-01
Penn Station lives on through this wonderfully illustrated story by Mr. Low. How sad this building was destroyed in the name of progress. Mr. Low brings it alive again. It would be a great addition to any classroom library.
Low's Book Hits High Note.......2007-06-30
Beautifully illustrated and delightfully written. Underscoring the importance of landmark preservation, Old Penn Station brings NYC history to life in a most enjoyable way. Great read for both parents and children.
Stunning book!.......2007-06-30
I can only assume that "Aaradman" never actually took a look at this book, because what a stunning book! The drawings are rich and full, luminous and even sumptuous. My budding artist daughter poured over them to explore the detail. It makes you long for them to tear down the monstrosity that is the Madison Square Garden/Penn Station of today and rebuild Penn Station in all its grandeur of yesteryear. Hats off to William Low for another great book!
Book Description
Similar in format to the Electaarchitecture title, "Twenty Houses by Twenty Architects," this volume presents a series of case studies of different interpretations of one building type. The author's introduction provides an overview of the history of railway architecture, citing its most significant developments. Individual project documentation begins with the Gare de L'Est in Paris, the first major railway station of the nineteenth century. Grand Central Terminal in New York City, of 1903-13, is documented through archival material, including engineering drawings andperiod photographs, as well as contemporary photographs revealing the major restoration project of the 1990s. Several contemporary stations that have reinvigorated the building type include the Santa Justa station in Seville by Antonio Cruz and Antonio Oritz, the a station in Kyoto by Hiroshi Hara, the Lyon TGV Station by Santiago Calatrava, and the Arnhem Station by Dutch architects Ben von Berkel and Caroline Bos of UN Studio, one of the leading firms of today.
Customer Reviews:
Focusing on the architecture and evolution of the railway station over 100 years of changing designs.......2005-11-08
Railway fans always receive plenty of train books to contemplate - this offers a difference, focusing on the architecture and evolution of the railway station over 100 years of changing designs. Sixteen stations in nine countries are examined with an eye to considering historical precedent, the evolution of railway architecture, and the influence of station design on rail operations. Gorgeous, oversized full-page color photos capture the stations in profile, add charts where appropriate, and provides an exceptional visual display. Perfect not just for rail buffs, but for fans of transportation architecture in general.
Average customer rating:
- Marvelous
- Perfect
- A wonderful book, an exquisite expression of longing...
- Stations raises the novel to a new and innovative level.
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STATIONS: An Imagined Journey
Michael Flanagan
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
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ASIN: 0679435476
Release Date: 1994-09-13 |
Customer Reviews:
Marvelous.......2007-05-15
This is fantastic book. An excellent story accompanied by some of the most delicately beautiful paintings. Flanagan is surely at the lead of contemporary artists. His paintings offers the most magica details and provide, not only a beautiful piece of artwork, but a strong emotional response that touches the heart of even the most jaded reader. There should be one in every home.
Perfect.......2001-08-28
It is a tragedy that this book did not have the success it deserved. However, it remains an esoteric pleasure for those who are aware of it. With some of the most beautiful illustrations of any book I've ever seen, and a fully imagined landscape of a past America, Michael Flanagan creates a fictional world that crosses tracks with our own. In addition to the narrative, which is fine, one can enjoy the story just by flipping through the many pictures -- bent and torn "photographs" of decaying and dying old towns along a railroad line. This book works on several levels and is unlike any other book I've encountered.
A wonderful book, an exquisite expression of longing..........1998-05-16
"Stations" is a work of art that is an intense, exquisite expression of longing. It evokes a sense of place and time that is half remembered, close by yet out of reach, and infused with sweet loss.
For Model Railroaders, especially, this is a meaningful book that conveys a lot of what the hobby is about: the desire to hold fast to that which must dissipate. (Of course, the hobby is about other things, too, such as: Fun!) A character in "Stations", Virgil Ross, is modeled after the Eminent Model Railroader John Allen. What a beautiful irony - a character that is a model of a Master Modeler.
The support of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the development of "Stations" provides another special aspect to this book that adds to its allure. It is engaging to contemplate the interest of our suave, cosmopolitan, precious Jackie in the expression of longing embodied within the likes of a Virgil Ross, and captured so beautifully by this book. Yet another example of how we hardly knew her.
I keep going back to this book, to re-read random paragraphs, to gaze longingly at its illustrations, to re-capture the emotions, the sadness and joy, it summons. When I hold this book, I want to somehow caress it.
Stations raises the novel to a new and innovative level........1997-05-04
Flanagan doesn't just tell a story in this marvelous book. He creates a rich, vivid world--layered with multiple generations, multiple cultures, multiple landscapes--and he does it in fewer pages than lesser novelists would use for throat-clearing. Along with being a writer, Flanagan is a painter who has illustrated his story with dazzling paintings that focus on the train stations of rural Virginia. More than mere illustrations, however, these pictures play the role of recently-discovered heirlooms. As illustrations, they beautifully depict the sad, vanishing life of the people that inhabit this bittersweet world. As palimpsests, they also tell a story of their own. Flanagan has done far more than write a magnificent novel. He's merged written story and visual artwork into a powerful new medium. Truly a tour de force
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- The Magical Garden of Claude Monet
- The Norton Sampler, Sixth Edition
- The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #37 (Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide)
- The Official Price Guide to Collector Plates: Seventh Edition (Official Price Guide to Collector Plates)
- The Pipe Fitters Blue Book
- The Surface Designer's Handbook: Dyeing, Printing, Painting, and Creating Resists on Fabric
- The Voynich Manuscript: The Unsolved Riddle of an Extraordinary Book Which Has Defied Interpretation for Centuries
- The Wine Bible
- Traditional Mexican Style Interiors (Schiffer Design Book)
Books Index
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